Powder feed mechanism



' Jan.21,1958 J. D. WINTERS ETAL 2,320,577

POWDER FEED MECHANISM File d Dec. 3, 1953 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fr]! I Jam 1958 I J. D. WINTERS ETAL 2,820,577

POWDER FEED MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3, 1953 J. D. WINTERS ET AL 2,820,577

Jan. 21, 1958 POWDER FEED MECHANISM 3 Shgets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 3, 1953 2,820,577 POWDER FEED MECHANISM.

John D. Winters, Lake Bluff, and Arthur C. Nichols, Waukegan, 111., assignors to Fansteel Metallurgical Corporation, a corporation of New York Application December 3; 1953, SerialNo. 595,891 9 Claims. (Cl. 222-306) This'invention' relates to a powder feed mechanism for dispensingaccurately measured quantities of powder from a hopper.

The rapidand accurate measurement of various kinds of powders is of practical advantage in the processing of electrical contacts, carbide tools and dies, and processes of similar naturein which the cost of the powder used is an'imp'ortant factor; It-is also ofextreme' importance in the preparation of many medicines where slight variations in measurement of powders may seriously affect the qualityof the resulting product. In many other'processes such asloading cartridges or explosives ofvarious types, it is also very desirable to control the powder content accurately.

In accordance with the'presentinventi'on, we have devised a simple mechanism capable of rapidly measuring and dispensing accuratelycontrolle'd quantities of powder, thus preventing any waste or contamination of the powder. Another advantage of the present mechanism is the ease and accuracy with which it may quantity of powder dispensed and the security with which any position of adjustment is maintained.

The structure by means of which'the above and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in detail in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawin'gs, showing a' preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure l is a top elevational view of a powder feed mechanism embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a'rear elevational view, away to show part of the mechanism;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view,-tal en alon'g "the line 3-3"of Figure '1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional line L-4 of Figure 3,: showing powder filling position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the measuring mechanism in the :powderdumping position;

Figure'6 is a detail perspective'view of :the outlet mem-. ber'with the measuring shaft shown in dotted lines;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the outlet member;

Figure 8' is a top' plan view of the outlet member;

Figure 9' is a vertical view, partly in elevation and partly insection, through another embodiment of: the invention; in which the: horizontal shaft is: continuously rotatediin one direction by a motor;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectionalrview, line 10'-10-of.Figure9; and

Figure 11 is an-enlargedcrosssectional view through the horizontal shaft.

Referring; to the" drawings, the reference. numeral 2 indicates a housing preferably intheform of a casting secured to a-support 3 by means ofbolts 4. The support maybe ofany suitable .type;.for -example, it may be part offa;machine -adapted to processzthepowder dispensed from the feed mechanism, or may be independent of with parts broken view, taken. along the the mechanism in. the

taken along the be adjusted to control the 2,8205??? Patented Jan. 21, 1958..

supportedon a table or bench in either "fixed or-movable position.

v The housing is provided with a vertical'bore 5* (Figure 3) and a horizontal bore 6 which intersect. The upper portion of vertical bore 5 is provided withatubular'insert 7 which is held in place by set screws 8 A plug 9 is drive-fitted into the bottom portion of an opening 19 in tubular insert 7 and its bottom is substantially flush with the upper edge of longitudinal bore 6. Plug 9 isprovided with a funnel-shaped aperture llterrninating-at-its lower end'in a cylindrical aperture 12- extending through the bottom'of' plug 9. A hopper 13 having an integral hollow-stem 14 has its stem positioned in opening 10 with the lower end of the stem in contactwith the upper edge of plug 9'so that powder placed in hopper 13' will move downwardly freely into funnel-shaped aperture 11 andthe cylindrical aperture 12. The powder is fed from the aperture 12 in a manner hereinaiter described. Hopper 13' may be provided with any suitable cover- (not shown) if'it is desired to protect the powder against'contamination.

An. outlet member 15' is drive fitted into' the'l'ower portion of. vertical bore:5. The upper end of outlet member 15 is provided with oppositely disposed arms 16 ahd' 17 (Figure? 6) adapted to straddle a shaft 18 rotatably mounted in longitudinal bore 6', ashereinafter described; The upper edges of extensions 16 and17' terminate in a horizontal plane-substantiallyfiush with the' upp'er surfaceof shaft118; The surface of outlet member 15 between and at the bottom of arms 16 aud-17 isrounded concav'ely, as indicated at 19, to conform to'th'e curvature of the outer surface of shaft 18 whichv it'enga'ges: The lowerend. ofplug 9-also-engages the outer surface ofshaft 18 and iscurvedto' conform to its curvature, as indicated at 20, Figures 4 and 5 Outlet member 15- (Figure 3) is provided with an opening121 in which a hollow'stem' or tube 22 is fitted; Tube 22 extends below and constitutes' the' passageway through which the powder is-dis'pensed'from' the feeding mechanism. The upper portion of opening 21' isflared outwardly, as indicated at 23, to facilitatethe'passageof powder into tube 22. Arm 17 (Figure: 7) is" provided with. a recess 24 having converging side walls" which terminate at the upper end'of tube 22. Recess .4 extends to the upper edge of arm 17.

Shaft 18 (Figure 3) is provided with bearings 25 suitably' mounted adjacent the front end of housing 'zz The rear end of shaft 18 is of reduced diameter, as:indi"cated at 26, and is secured bymeans of a pin 27 to the 'hub 28 of a pinion gear 29 (Fig.- 2) positioned in horizontalbore 6 adjacent its rear end. A spacer 30 positioned intermediate the length of the reduced portion 26' of shaft 18 is. held in place by a set screw 31' threaded through an .aperture. 32 in housing 2. Bearings'33 are fittedin horizontal bore o-between shaft portion" 26;- andhousing 2 on.each side of spacer 39.

A rack.34 (Figure 4) extends upwardlyinto housingZ with its teeth35 meshing with the teeth 36 of pinion 29'. Asillustrated in the drawings, rack 34 is fixedto a support, such as the stationary frame (not shown) of a machine. The frame part 3 of the machine, to which housing 2 is secured, is reciprocated vertically during the operation of the machine. It is obviousthat the supportiugmembers for housing} and rack 34. may be reversed, namely, that the housing may be fixed to a stationary support, and the rack fixed'to a movable machineJ-p'art,

For the proper operation of the dispenser of the present invention, it is essential that relative movement between housing 2 and rack 34 be provided in some manner. As these-two members are moved relative to each other, teeth 35, which mesh with teeth 36. rotate. pinion 29. The hub 28 of pinion 29, which is fixed to the reduced end 26 (Figure 3) of shaft 18 by means of pin 27, causes shaft 18 to rotate in horizontal bore 6. A back plate 37 is secured against the rear end of housing 2 by screws 38 to prevent disengagement of rack 34 and pinion 29. A strip 39 (Figure 2), secured to the back of rack 34 by screws 40, is provided with a pair of vertically spaced recesses 41. Housing 2 is provided with a s ring-pressed ball 42 which fits into recesses 4l-to provide an accurate stop to control the relative vertical movement between housing 2 and rack 34. 1

The intermediate portion of shaft 18 fits between the curved surface 19 and the bottom of plug 9. Shaft 18 is provided with a transversely extending bore 43 (Figure 4), threaded along a portion of its length from aninternal region to one end thereof. A screw 44 threaded into bore 43 may be positioned anywhere within the opening to close the bottom of bore 43 and to provide a cavity 43. The screw permits of a fine adjustment to control the capacity or volume of cavity 43. Screw 44 has a slot 46 in head 45, and another slot 47 in its opposite end so thatit may be adjusted from either end. Any suitable adjustable means for closing the bottom of bore 43 to provide cavity 43 may be used, but a screw is preferred because of the ease with which its position may be changed and the security with which it is held against accidental displacement.

for receiving the said tube.

The cut-off between cavity 43' and plug 9 is precise so that thequantity of powder in cavity 43' may be regulated with extreme accuracy merely by turning screw 44 in either direction. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, recess 24 is tapered in width, the upper portion being wider than opening 43 so that'powder dumped out of cavity 43' must fall within the confines of recess 24. If the powder were not confined to the recess 24, some might get between shaft 18 and surface 19 and not only impair the accuracy of measurement, but also 'cause abrasion of the shaft 18 or surface 19. I

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures powder from tube 22 move relative to 9-11, much of the'structure is a duplicate of the embodiment described above, and the description thereof will not be repeated. The essential-differences between the two embodiments are .the specific structure of the shaft 48 which replaces shaft 18, and the means for rotating shaft 48. In this embodiment, the gear 29 and the rack 34 are omitted, and the housing 49, which replaces housing 2, does not reciprocate as in the previous embodimerit.

The shaft 48 is similar to bore 43 pletely through the 50 is threaded, as

provided with a transverse bore '50, except that it does not extend comshaft. The inner end position of bore indicated at 51, Figure 11. A screw 1 52 has one end threaded to engage the threads 51 and the The bore 43 may extend entirely through shaft 18, or

it may extend only part way through to provide a cavity of fixed volume or capacity. Adjustable means, suchas screw 52 may be positioned within a bore which does not extend entirely through the shaft varying its capacity as shown in Figure 11.

The vertical reciprocation of the housing 2 acts through rack 34 to oscillate shaft 18 between the powder filling position of Figure 4 and the powder dumping position of Figure 5. Power fed from hopper 13 through funnel 11 by gravity falls into cavity 43' as the rotation of shaft 18 brings'the shaft into powder filling position, in which cavity 43' is aligned vertically with opening 12. Shaft 18 is stopped in this position by the interengagement of spring-pressed ball 42 with the upper recess 41, which occurs simultaneously with the termination of the downward movement of housing 2.

Rotation of shaft 18 in the opposite direction, as housing 2 starts its upward movement, causes the peripheral surface of shaft 18 on the right hand side of cavity 43, as viewed movement of powder after cavity 43' has been completely filled. As shaft 18 continues to rotate, cavity 43' approaches a horizontal plane and the powder is dumped therefrom. Rotation of shaft 18 is continued past ninety degrees to insure dumping of all the powder from cavity 43', but is stopped before one hundred and eighty degrees to prevent any powder from falling from funnel 11 into the portion of opening 43 on the side of screw 44 opposite to cavity 43'. a The recess 24 is aligned transversely with cavity 43' so that the powder dumped from cavity 43' falls into the recess and moves downwardly by gravity through tube 22 into a suitable mold or receptacle (not shown) positioned below the open bottom end of the tube. Since the rota tion of shaft 18 is controlled by the relative movement between gear 29 and rack 34, the cycle of movement of the powder from the hopper is synchronized with the machine to which the powder'feed mechanism is connected,'so that the powder is dispensed through tube 22 at definite, predetermined intervals. This synchronization is important where the molds or other receptacles to provide means for other end has an enlarged head 53, joined to the first end by a reduced neck portion 54. Head 53 is provided with a slot 55 to receive a screw driver or similar tool so that it maybe easily rotated to regulate the capacity of the powder cavity 56 comprising the portion of bore 50 between head 53 and the open end of bore 50.

, A gear 57, mounted on the end of shaft 48, is open atively connected with a motor (not shown) in any suitable manner, and is rotated continuously as long as the motor is operating. As the cavity 56 is aligned with aperture 12, it is filled with powder which .it starts dumping do not desire to :be restricted to the exact details of con-' struction described.

We claim: 1. A powder having an open bottom, an outlet member positioned below said open bottom, said outlet'member being provided with upwardly extending arms at opposite edges thereof, one of said arms being provided with a vertically extending recess, a horizontally disposed shaft rotatably mounted betwen said armswith its periphery engaging the-open bottom of said hopper to form a cutting edge, said shaft having a transversely extending cavity, and adjustable means closing one end of said cavity, said cavity being aligned with the open bottom of said hopper'and said outlet member during rotation of the shaft, whereby powder is discharged from said hopper into said cavity and dumped from said cavity into said outlet member.

2. A powder feed mechanism comprising a hopper having an open bottom, an outlet member positioned below said open bottom, said outlet member being provided with upwardly'extending arms at opposite edges thereof, one of said arms being provided with a vertically extending recess, a horizontally disposed shaft rotatably the position feed mechanism comprising a hopper.

mounted with its periphery in engagemenh'witwboth the open" bottom of 'said "hopper, to" form'a cutting -'ad'ge;

and the inner 'snrfaces of "said I arms; said outlet member having, a'vertical-opening extending therethrough, said recess extending upwardly from" said vertical opening; t.

aligned with the when said shaft is aligned with it and said recess.

3. A powderv feed mechanism comprising a hopper having an open bottom, an outlet member positioned below said open bottom, said outlet-member being provided with upwardly extendinguarmsat opposite edges thereof, a horizontally disposedshaft' rotatably mounted between said arms .withsitsperiphery in engagementwwith the bottom. endwof .said hopper i andz'atleast a portion of the inner surface of each of said arms, one of said arms being provided with a vertically extending recess, said outlet member having a vertical opening extending from the lower end of said recess through said outlet member, said shaft having a transverse cavity aligned with the open bottom of said hopper when in vertical position, whereby powder pours from said hopper into said cavity, adjustable means for regulating the capacity of said cavity to control the quantity of powder received by said cavity from said hopper when they are aligned, means for rotating said shaft to move the top of said cavity opening toward said recess, whereby said powder is dumped from said cavity into said recess as the rotation of said shaft from said vertical position exceeds forty-five degrees, said cavity being in alignment with said recess when the cavity is rotated in the region of the recess.

4. A powder feed mechanism comprising: a hopper having an open bottom; an outlet member positioned below said open bottom, said outlet member having upwardly extending arms at opposite edges thereof and having an opening therethrough substantially in alignment with the opening in the bottom of the hopper; a horizontally disposed shaft rotatably mounted between said arms with its periphery in contact with the edges forming the open bottom of said hopper and with at least a portion of the inner surface of each of said arms, said shaft having a transverse cavity aligned with the open bottom of said hopper when in a vertical feed position whereby powder flows from said hopper into said cavity, and one of said arms having a recess extending upwardly from the opening in the outlet member to a point on the arm at least 90 in rotation upwardly of a point on the shaft from alignment with the opening in the outlet member; adjustable means forregulating the capacity of said cavity; and means for rotating said shaft to move the top of said cavity opening downwardly toward said recess to dump substantially all of the powder from said cavity into the opening in the outlet member, the top of said cavity opening and the recess being in alignment when the cavity opening is rotated through the region of the recess.

5. A powder feed mechanism comprising: a hopper having an open bottom; an outlet member positioned below said open bottom, said outlet member having upwardly extending arms at opposite edges thereof and having an opening therethrough substantially in alignment with the opening in the bottom of the hopper; a horizontally disposed shaft rotatably mounted between said arms with its periphery in contact with the edges forming the open bottom of said hopper and with at least a portion of the inner surface of each of said arms, said shaft having a transverse cavity aligned with the open bottom of said hopper when in a vertical feed position whereby powder flows from said hopper into said cavity, and one said one of said arms and said vertical openingduring vrotation of said shaft, whereby a measured quantity of powder'pours fromi said hopper into. said cavity when said shaft openingis bottom. endof said hopper and from. said cavity into'said vertical opening inth'eloutlet member alignmen'flwith the-opening the'cavity; and' the top of recess being in' alignment rotated throughth'e'region of the recess:

6-. A powder feed mechanism comprisin -z having an open bottom;

low said open bottom; said outlet m'ember having up wardly extendingarmsat' opposite edges thereof and haysubstantially in alignment" ing an opening therethrough with the openirig 'in the bottom of the'hopper; a hori zontally disposed shaft rotatab1y mounted betweenz'said arms with its periphery in contact with the edges forming the open bottom of said hopper to form a "cutting: edge and'with atleast a portiorlof the-inner surface ofeach of said arms; said shaft' of-sa'rd"-hopper when in a vertical feed positionwhereb'y powder flows from said hopper into said cavity, and one of said arms having a recess extending upwardly from the opening in the outlet member to a point on the arm at least in rotation upwardly of a point on the shaft from alignment with the opening in the outlet member; adjustable means closing one end of said cavity for regu lating the capacity of said cavity; means for rotating said shaft to move the top of said cavity opening downwardly toward said recess to dump substantially all of the powder from said cavity into the opening in the outlet member, the top of said cavity opening and the recess being in alignment when the cavity opening is rotated through the region of the recess.

7. A powder feed mechanism comprising: a hopper having an open bottom; an outlet member positioned below said open bottom, said outlet member having upwardly extending arms at opposed edges thereof and having an opening therethrough substantially in alignment with the opening in the bottom of the hopper; a horizontally disposed shaft rotatably mounted between said arms with its periphery in contact with the edges forming the open bottom of said hopper to form a cutting edge and with at least a portion of the inner surface of each of said arms, said shaft having a transverse cavity aligned with the open bottom of said hopper when in a vertical feed position whereby powder flows from said hopper into said cavity, and one of said arms having a recess extending upwardly from the opening in the outlet member beyond a point on the arm at least 90 in rotation upwardly of a point on the shaft from alignment with the opening in the outlet member; adjustable means for regulating the capacity of said cavity; and means for rotating said shaft to move the top of said cavity downwardly toward said recess and to dump substantially all of the powder from said cavity into the opening in the outlet member, said recess having side walls converging downwardly toward the opening in the outlet member, the top portion of said recess being greater in width than the diameter of said transverse cavity, and the top of said cavity opening and the recess being in alignment when the cavity opening is rotated through the region of the recess.

8. A powder feed mechanism comprising: a hopper having an open bottom; an outlet member positioned below said open bottom, said outlet member having upwardly extending arms at opposite edges thereof and having an opening therethrough substantially in alignment with the opening in the bottom of the hopper; a horizontally disposed shaft rotatably mounted between said arms with its periphery in contact with the edges forming the open bottom of said hopper to form a cutting edge and with at least a portion of the inner surface of each of said arms, said shaft having a transverse cavity therethrough aligned with the open bottom of said hopper a hopper an outlet member positioned behaving a transverse' cavity ex tending therethrough and aligned with the open-bottom means for regulating the capacity of said cavity; and

means for rotating said shaft to move the top of said cavity opening downwardly toward said recess to an. angle of rotation from the open bottom of the hopper of from 90 to less than 180 to dump substantially all of the powder from said cavity into the opening in the outlet member, the top of said cavity opening andthe recess being in alignment when the icavityopening is rotated through the region of the recess. a a

9. A powder feedtmechanism; comprising:: a hopper having an open bottom; anoutlet member positioned below said open bottomrs icl outletmember being provided with upwardly extending arms at opposite edges thereof;

a horizontally disposed shaft, rotatably mounted between 20 said arms with its periphery in engagement with the bottom end of said hopper andat least a portion of the inner surfacevof each of said arms, one of said arms being proq vided'with a vertically extendingrecess, said. outlet member havingavertical opening extending from the lower end of said recess through having a transverse cavity said outlet member, said shaft aligned with the open bottom ofsaid hopper when in vertical position, whereby powder pours-from said hopper into said cavity; and means for rotating said shaft to move the top of said cavity opening toward said recess, whereby said powder .is dumped from said cavity into said recess, said cavity being in alignment with said recess when the cavity is rotated in the region of the recess.

References Cited in the'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Elward Sept. 3, 1895 Gardner et a1 Sept. 11, 1951 Harrington Aug. 11, 1953 Worswick Oct. 19, 1954 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION January 21, 1958 Patent No, 2,820,577

John Do Winters et a1,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification on and that the said Let cars of the above numbered patent requiring correcti Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 65, after "hopper" insert said recess in said one of said arms Signed and sealed this 18th day of March 1958,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Ho AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

